Chapter 44 - Biology (2)

I froze, my headphones still dangling from my ears.

The entire class was staring at me now, and I could feel the weight of their gazes like a physical force.

Janet's eyes were locked on mine, her expression unreadable but her tone icy enough to make me regret ever plugging in those headphones.

For a moment, I hesitated. I was unsure if I should just give her the basics, or I should go all out and drop some of the extra knowledge I had from the novel?

After all I didn't want to come off as a know-it-all, but at the same time, I wasn't about to embarrass myself in front of the whole class.

Just then Janet's voice cut through my thoughts, colder and sharper than before. "I'm waiting, Cadet Hunt. Explain what I just said."

I sighed, pulling my headphones out and standing up. Oh well.

"Vampires are pseudo-immortal," I began, my voice steady despite the tension in the room.

"Their regeneration is insane, especially for the nobles. They have insane physical abilities—strength, speed, reflexes—and the older they get, the stronger they become.

They can't use mana, not that they don't want to, but they literally can't. No one knows why.

They also follow a strict hierarchy, starting from common vampires all the way up to the king.

Their physical abilities depend largely on their nobility rank.

For example, a count will always be stronger than a viscount, even if the viscount is a thousand years old and the count is only twenty.

Their main method of combat involves blood—their own blood, their opponent's blood, it doesn't matter.

And the only ways to kill a vampire, especially nobles, are sunlight, decapitation, or destruction of the heart. Of course there's also dragon toxin. "

I paused, considering whether to add more. I could've gone into the specifics of vampire nobility, or their political structure.

But then before I could continue, Janet held up a hand, cutting me off.

"That's enough," she said, her tone firm but not unkind.

"While I appreciate your... extensive knowledge on the subject, I'd prefer if you at least pretended to pay attention in my class.

After all even if you think you know it all, there's always something new to learn. Understood?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and mild embarrassment. "Understood, ma'am."

"Good. Now sit down."

I did as I was told, slumping back into my seat.

As soon as I settled into my seat, Natasha elbowed me in the stomach, hard enough to make me wince.

I turned to her, rubbing the spot where she'd hit me. "What was that for?" I asked, my voice low.

She threw her head to the side in what I could only describe as fake anger, her blue hair swishing dramatically.

"That's for being a jerk," she said, her tone huffy. "You could've just listened instead of showing off."

I sighed, not bothering to argue. She wasn't wrong, but I wasn't about to admit that out loud.

Instead, I turned my attention back to Janet, who was already diving back into her lecture.

"As Cadet Hunt so eloquently explained," Janet said, her tone dry, "vampires are a formidable race with unique strengths and weaknesses.

But what makes them truly dangerous is their adaptability.

They've survived for centuries, evolving and refining their abilities to remain a dominant force in Fantasia.

Understanding them is crucial if you ever find yourself facing one on the battlefield."

The class nodded, some scribbling notes while others just listened intently.

I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to the dream about Liza.

It was hard to shake the image of her lifeless body, the sound of her voice as she tried to comfort me.

I clenched my fists hard under the table, as I forced myself to push those thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time.

Janet continued, her voice steady and authoritative.

"Vampires are not to be underestimated. Their physical prowess, combined with their cunning and longevity, makes them some of the most dangerous opponents you'll ever face.

But remember, they're not invincible. Every enemy has a weakness, and it's your job to exploit it."

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes fixed on Janet as she spoke.

Despite my earlier distraction, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect for her. She knew her stuff, and she wasn't afraid to put us in our place when we needed it.

As the lecture went on, I found myself actually paying attention, even if it was just to keep my mind off things.

Natasha glanced at me a few times, her expression softening, but she didn't say anything. Something I was glad for. For now, at least, things were back to normal.